Nevada County picayune., 1887-07-27

' ing for grave old hermit like you are"
 And then some mischievous boys began to throw dirt over him, and a spiteful dog tore the skirt of his robe, and another dog sprang up and gave him pinch in the leg that made him jump till at last the poor old teacher was glad to make off as fast as he could, very sad at heart to think that there were any men Ill the world who could he mean enough to trea. all old man so shabbily.
 "Well, he said to himself. its all tor the best, no doubt: and since there's nothing else to be done, I may as well take shelter among the rocks, as that mischievOus fel- low advised me-"
 It was not long before he found cave dry enough to shit him, and in he went, leaving his donkey outside to sraze. Having eaten the few wheaten cakes left in his wallet, taken a drink from tiny spring that bubbled from the rock and wrapped himself snugly in his mantle, the old man began to feel more comfortable, and thought he would amuse himself by reading d little before he went to sleep.
 He lighted his lamp. and set it upon ledge just over hls head, But scarcely had he pulled out his book, when To, a violent gust of wind blew the lamp out, and worse still tumbled it down of the ledge on to the ground, spilling all the oil, so that it could not be lighted again.
 "Ha' said the Rabbi, mot much reading for me to night, l see. Well, no matter: doubtless it is all for the best"
 But it seemed to be all for tn he worst just then, for at that moment terrific outcry and Tapping of wings was heard from the nook in which the rooster had perched himself, and Akiba rushed to the mouth of the cavern just in time to see huge gray wolf scudding off with poor Chanticleer in its mouth.
 "Poor fellow, said the old man pitingly; "I shall miss him sore ly, though am not likely to sleep too long on such couch as this. We'll, well, dare say it is all for the best; and thank heaven, my faithful donkey is still left me.'
 Scarcely were the words uttered when slril cry of terror, blen ded with q deafening roar, came from without, and by the dim light our Rabbi could just see his don. key, which had strayed to a little distance, struggling in the jaws of a monstrous lion.
 "All gonew said the poor old man, in talterlng voice for this blow almost 0vercame him" Il gone, and l am left alone. But it must all be for the best, for what God wills cannot be wrong."
 So saying, Akiba tried to forget his troubles in sleep, and having now no rooster to arouse hlm, dId not awake until the sun was high in the sky.
 "Now," said he, after finishing his prayers, "l will try these yil- lagerS once more; even they can't be so hard. hearted as to refuse me help in my present distress"
 But as he approached the village very startling sight presented it. self. Not a living thing was to be seen, but men were lying dead on every side, while empty chests, broken boxes, doors torn down or beaten in, hoof-prinis deeply stamped in the clay, told plainly of night attack by robbers.
 Il see it all," cried Akiba. "and all was for the best, indeed. Had l found shelter here, should have perished with the rest; and had my lamp remained burning, or my rooster happened to crow, or my donkey to bray, l should have been discovered and killed im the cave. Thanks be to God who has saved me from destruction. but l wish these poor souls could have been saved, too, ill though they treated me-
 Then, taking possession of an old mnle which the robbers had not cared to steal, and filling his